Review of History and Political Science December 2016, Vol. 4, No. 2, pp. 43-51 ISSN: 2333-5718 (Print), 2333-5726 (Online) Copyright © The Author(s). 2015. All Rights Reserved. Published by American Research Institute for Policy Development DOI: 10.15640/rhps.v4n2a5 URL: https://doi.org/10.15640/rhps.v4n2a5 Sharqieh Ltd. and Mineral-Exploration Projects in Arabia (1926-1960) Maha Ali Alkhashil1 Abstract Sharqieh Ltd. was a foreign company opened its branch in Jeddah in 1926, where Harry St. J. Philby managed this branch. It was engaged in various commercial activities in the Arabian Peninsula until it was liquidated in 1960. Though the company had won Saudi government's confidence and succeeded in almost all of its projects, it failed to obtain any contracts for mineral extraction, despite continuous efforts in this regard. The study discusses the efforts exerted by the company to obtain concessions in mineral mining and investment and the reasons for their failure. The study has applied the historical analytical method and has derived information from various sources. The most important of these are Philby’s papers in The Middle East Centre, Saint Antony College, Oxford, and UK National Archive documents, along with some documents archived in The King Abdulaziz Foundation in Riyadh. Keywords: H. St. John Philby; Sharqieh Ltd., Arabia; King Abdulaziz; mineral mining; concessions; Mitchel Cotts; great depression. Introduction The Sharqieh Ltd. Jeddah branch was established in 1926 during a phase that witnessed many political and economic developments in Arabia. The launching of its business was at a time when serious efforts were being exerted by King Abdulaziz to develop the country and update its economy. The main goal of establishing Sharqieh Ltd. was to obtain contracts in the Arabian Peninsula in the fields of banking, petroleum, minerals, harbours and transportation services, in general, and in addition, for electricity, lighting, water plants and all matters related thereto. The company was the mediator between the Saudi Government and many foreign companies that were, at that time, seeking to get a chance to work in the Kingdom – whether through supplying products and services to it or by exploring its resources. Commercial activities related to equipment, spare parts, devices and accessories were added in the last years of its work, which added building and construction to its activities. Harry St. J. Philby was appointed as manager of Sharqieh Ltd. in Jeddah, as of the date of its establishment. He is considered to have been the main factor of the company’s business success and development, as he was well aware of the situation in the Arabian Peninsula and had significant contacts, especially with King Abdulaziz. This study aims to examine one aspect of the activities of Sharqieh Ltd., which was its seeking to get mineral mining and investment concessions, as well as detailing its efforts in this regard, the targeted areas and the projects’ results. The study also aims to discuss the reasons that have prevented the company from any contract in the field of mining, despite the great reputation gained by the company in Arabia .The study applied the historical analytical method, and it started with detailing the efforts exerted by Sharqieh Ltd. to obtain the mining concession as indicated in the first and second part. The third part includes an analysis of this information in a way that shows the conditions faced by SharqiehLtd. And their impacts on the company. 1 History Department, Princess Nourah Bint Abdulrahman University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. 44 Review of History and Political Science, December 2016, Vol. 4, No. 2 This study depends on information from various sources, such as: documents of Sharqieh Ltd. among Philby’s papers in The Middle East Centre Archive (MECA), Saint Antony College, Oxford and UK National Archive (TNA) documents as well as some documents archived in The King Abdulaziz Foundation (KAF), in Riyadh.With regards to the previous studies, several books have dealt with Philby’s life and his publications. However, about his business activities in Arabia and the company’s establishment, Alkhashil have presented a paper in the 2nd International conference about King Abdulaziz's history, generally traced the company’s establishment, commercial activity, challenging conditions and its achieved results during the time of its business activities in the Kingdom. However, the paper did not approach mineral projects. The current study focuses mainly on the company and its Jeddah branch manager’s efforts to obtain concessions in the field of mineral mining – whether inside the Kingdom or in Iraq – the reasons for their interest in this matter, the challenging conditions and the results. The study is divided into three sections that deal with: the beginning of Phil by’s interest in obtaining mineral concessions, then his efforts in this field after establishing the company and in focusing his efforts on two areas: Midian, in the north west kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Al Qa’ara, south west of Iraq, and finally discussing the results of the company’s efforts. 1. Philby and his Interest in Obtaining Mineral Concessions Philby’s relations with Arabia began during WWI, as he participated in the first meeting between King Abdulaziz and Sir Percy Cox in Al Uqair Port at the end of 1915. The meeting culminated in the signing of the Treaty of Darin between King Abdulaziz and Great Britain. Then, Philby visited Arabia once again in 1917 on an official mission assigned to him by the British administration in Iraq, to meet King Abdulaziz in November 1917. Another mission followed in 1918. From that point onwards, Philby realized that there were coming transformations in the balance of power in Arabia. In November 1921, Philby moved to work in Jordan, as he was the Chief British Agent there. However, due to constant disputes with his government, he decided to resign in 19241. His new source of earnings in the following years became commercial business in Arabia2. As for Philby’s heading into commercial business, he mentioned in his book Arabian Days a brief explanation about the reason for his move towards trading in Arabia, in particular. He noted that in the summer of 1924 he spent some days with his friend Remy Fisher, a businessman. They discussed many things, among which the issue of obtaining concessions in Hijaz, west of Arabia. Due to Philby's experience, Fisher asked him about the possibility of obtaining commercial and investment contracts in Arabia. He suggested the establishment of a company in the Arabian Peninsula to perform activities based on service and commercial contracts. This attracted Philby and made him see new business opportunities3. At the end of October 1924, Philby had the chance to visit Jeddah. However, information about this visit is not enough to identify how this visit impacted Philby’s commercial expectations, except for an indication by Mohammed AL Mana, a member of King Abdulaziz’s office, in which he mentioned that Philby arrived in Jeddah in 1924 after he asked his government, through the British political office in Cairo, to allow him go to Hijaz to mediate between King Abdulaziz and Hashimites. However, the British authorities refused his request. Nonetheless, he reached Al Hijaz. Al Mana mentioned that Philby’s mission did not achieve valuable results, but "His visit gave him the opportunity to have several meetings with Ibn Saud"4. Philby probably went to Hijaz with his conversation with Fisher in mind. However, the conditions he found at that time did not help him go further. He became sick and was sent to Aden, and then he went to England after his recovery. The documents provide more information about developments in this regard from March 1925, and they manifest Philby’s efforts to implement what he discussed with his friend. In March 1925, he had a contact with Midian Ltd., a company that had a previous interest in gaining a mineral concession in Hijaz, and of which he had known while he was working in Jordan5. At the same time, Philby had contacted one of his Arab friends in Jeddah, Mostafa Nadhir, who later became one of Philby’s most important assistants in his commercial work.Nadhir’s reply at the end of July 1925 confirms that Philby, at this stage, was interested in the economic conditions in Hijaz and looked to obtain commercial concessions in the field of minerals there6. Based on the information provided by Nadhir, on 15 August 1925, Philby sent a letter to King Ali Ibn AL Hussein (October 1924–December 1925) through a customs manager in Dhiba on the Red Sea coast, in the north west of Arabia, asking for a concession in Dhiba. The king’s reply asked Philby to send a delegate to discuss the matter 7. Sharqieh Ltd.and Mineral-Exploration Projects in Arabia (1926-1960) 45 In summer 1925, Fisher invited Philby to spend a vacation with him, and they again discussed the question of concessions and trade in Hijaz. It is probable that Philby shared the information he obtained from the Midian Company and his friend Mostafa Nadhir with Fisher. To put this plan into action, Fisher began to share his idea concerning the establishment of a company with some relevant British businessmen. Thus, Philby was sent to Jeddah in October 1925, at their expense, to investigate the possibility of obtaining a trading opportunity. He was the guest of his friend MostafNadhir. In his book Arabian Jubilee, Philby mentioned that he went to Jeddah to mediate between King Abdulaziz and King Ali Ibn Hussein. While he mentioned the details of his meeting King Abdulaziz in Al Shumisi, near Mecca, he did not refer to a commercial company’s establishment8.